From 8 to 9 April 2024 in Paris, everything revolved around the topic of energy. Here, at the Maison de l’Europe in the heart of the French capital, the LEAP-STEP project was launched.

Funded by the European Commission and led by the Maison de l’Europe Paris and Europe Direct, all partners from eight EU countries met to get to know each other and develop an action plan.

The partners present were:
– Energy Agency of the Province of Avila -ES
– danube connects, Ulm – DE
– The city administration of Alytus – LT
– The Europe House in Budapest – HU
– Inov.org. – Associação para a Inovação Organizacional – PT
– The County Council of Bacau – RO
– The Maison de l’Europe in Paris – FR
– The Vincennes City Council – FR

Objective of the project: presenting ideas for solving energy problems, implementing sustainable concepts to reduce energy costs in municipalities and households, and actions to raise awareness of climate issues.
By May 2025, the project partners will organise exhibitions on this topic in the respective member countries as well as a get-together of the partners to exchange ideas and concepts.
Inspiration has already been gathered at the first conference in Paris – entitled “How Europeans are fighting energy poverty” – already gave participants a lot of inspiration.
In addition to the exchange between the partners, meetings are also planned with people from the region who are connected to the topic. We had the pleasure of meeting Charlotte Libert- Albanel, Mayor of Vincennes, after a walk through the town. Over a cocktail in the town hall, the shared European spirit became even livelier through enthusiastic discussions! The same applied to the meeting with Nerijus Aleksiejunas, Lithuania’s ambassador in Paris.
After two days, the partners returned to their respective home countries. With a smile on their faces, because new friendships were made and the enthusiasm for the realisation of this theme travelled with them.
We are looking forward to the opening of the first exhibition in Ulm and in the next month the exhibition tours through seven European countries.

LEAP-STEP
OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION “How to save energy in Europe?”
8 July at the IHK Ulm, Olgastraße 95-101, during the International Danube Festival